Piper PA-42-720 N66MT

Summary

On 31 January 2002 at about 00:10 local time, a Piper PA-42-720 registered N66MT was involved in an accident near Ames, Iowa, United States. 7 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 January 2002 at 00:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Ames, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Ames Municipal Airport (AME)

Coordinates

41.9886, -93.6197

Aircraft

Piper PA-42-720

Registration

N66MT

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Denver → Ames

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CHI02LA075

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide path during the final portion of the approach. Factors relating to this accident were the low altitude and the utility pole.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said he was on the glide slope for an ILS approach. The pilot said, "The auto pilot was coupled on to the approach. The autopilot also coupled on to the Glide slope. Approximately 2-1/2 to 3 miles out, we visually had approach lights and runway lights. I then disconnected the auto pilot and yaw damper, and hand flew a visual approach using the glide slope indicator as a cross check for a correct glide path to the airport. Continuing visually on the approach, I checked the GS (glide slope) and it indicated we were slightly above glide path, but was corrected, and seconds later hit a pole going through electrical wires, coming to rest short of the approach lights and to the right." An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. An examination of the ILS approach to the runway showed the facility operated satisfactorily.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.